On March 10, 2019, Tibetans and supporters staging a protest in front of the Chinese consulate as they commemorate the 1959 national uprising day against China's military occupation of Tibet. Photo: TPI/Yeshe Choesang

President of the Central Tibetan Administration, Dr Lobsang Sangay addressing the public on the 60th Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, in Dharamshala, India, on March 10, 2019. Photo: CTA

Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, Former Botswana President addressing the official commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day in Dharamshala, 10 March 2019. Photo: CTA/Tenzin Jigme

Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam who started the DIFF speaking at Upper TCV School in Dharamshala, India. The festival ended with the closing night screening of Aijaz Khan's 'Hamid' at the Hermann Gmeiner Auditorium. photo: TPI

President Dr Lobsang Sangay with the Thank You India Souvenir – A Dharmachakra representing the wheel of Universal Truth, at the press conference at Press Club of India on January 18, 2018. Photo: CTA/DIIR/Tenzin Phende

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Dr Lobsang Sangay President of the Central Tibetan Administration making the official announcement of the long-life prayer offering, during a press conference at Kashag Secretariat, Dharamshala, India, March 18, 2019. Photo/Tenzin Jigme/CTA

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Dharamshala – The Chinese continued negligence of people's religious sensibilities and exploitation of nature in the Tibetan plateau has caused an immense damage to the environment and deeply disappointed the people of Tibet. In the month of May, three reports of protest from different provinces of Tibet wherein the locals protested against the brutality incurred by the Chinese authorities on environment by mining on their land. Their lack of consideration and toward the appeals of people has aggravated protests in Tibet.

According to a TPI source, on Thursday, June 2 the local people of Achok Yultso township of Sangchu county, Amdo region of north-eastern Tibet, in massive numbers conducted a demonstration from yesterday's site of protest to the local government office protesting against the gold mining by Chinese on the sacred mountain of Nyenchen Gong-ngon Lari. Today's demonstration is a follow-up protest to yesterday's protest which saw many monks participating unlike the increased number of local participation today.

In a video released yesterday, protesters gathered with a huge red banner that read 'Prevent Nyenchen Gong-ngon Lari from mining' in Tibetan and Chinese and also shouted slogans. They can be heard shouting "Please protect the environment"; "Stop mining"; "Protect the holy mountain"; "We want people's safety"; and "Victory of the Holy Mountain". They also shouted slogans against Chinese hypocrisy calling out on how mining on a land without local people's consent is against the Chinese law.

One protester can be heard saying "President Xi Jinping in his speech made three major points that if we want to save the humanity, we must protect environment and this statement has already been made into law, therefore we will protect the mine and the environment. Victory of the holy mountain!"

Another footage received by TPI, shows over hundred people reaching to the local government office and gathered in front of the building and shouted "Stop the destruction of the environment". A man can be seen standing in front of few officials and showing them a white banner with words written in Tibetan that seems about environment protection and asking "Is this against the Chinese Communist Party's laws?"

People's sacred association with the mountain can be very well understood from a drawing procured by TPI showing a Chinese excavator destroying the sacred mountain which is in tears as a repercussion of which there are death, war, starvation, and poverty. The mountain represents 'thousand years of treasured mine' while the smoke coming out of the excavator represents 'black ink of Earth's skeleton'. On the heart of the mountain it's written 'Gold' in yellow; 'Silver' in white; 'Copper' in red and 'Iron' in blue. The drawing also calls Chinese activities "Arrogant, Illegal, Destruction and Selfish." The caption in addition to it reads 'Natural environment is like humans formed from four elements, therefore if we take away the minerals which is like a heart of nature and decrease the nutrients, it will cause disasters such as earthquake, bringing an immense destruction to the Mother Earth. Therefore to protect minerals is the real protection of environment and to ensure our survival'.

Translated by Yangchen Dolma and written in English by Shalkie, the Tibet Post International.